Separate Schools for Roma Challenged
By Pavol Stracansky
BRATISLAVA, Jan 16, 2012 (IPS) - A school in Slovakia has defended its decision to segregate Roma children from other students after a court ruled the practice breached equal rights laws.
The headmistress of the primary school in Sarisske Michalany, Maria Cvancigerova, said Roma children had been put into classes on their own to ensure they got special attention, and that they had benefitted as a result.
But critics say that other schools have had success with mixed classes including Roma children and that segregation will do nothing to help resolve problems with the education and social inclusion of Roma.
Stefan Ivanco of the Advisory for Civil and Human Rights NGO which brought the legal action against the school, told IPS: "This ruling is an important precedent in stopping the widespread and illegal practice of segregation at schools. "Inclusive education is the only approach schools can take. Inclusive education in a diverse collective of students shows a child not just how to learn but how to be friendly, tolerant, considerate and responsible within a society which is, fundamentally, diverse."
Of the 430 children attending the school, more than half are Roma and of the 22 classes at the school, 12 are exclusively for Roma children. Teachers at the school claim the segregation has been a success.
Margita Dorkova, a teacher at the school who has spent 20 years teaching Roma children, told local media: "This has been shown to be the right decision. It allows us to give the children individual attention and adjust the rate at which we cover subjects to suit their abilities. Attendance rates are up, there are less children dropping out of school and they learn much more.
Most Roma children come from poor backgrounds and socially excluded communities with chronic unemployment and low education levels.
Directors at the school also claim that the behaviour of some Roma children would lead to teachers acting as "bodyguards" protecting children instead of educating them.
The school plans to appeal against the court’s decision.
By Pavol Stracansky
BRATISLAVA, Jan 16, 2012 (IPS) - A school in Slovakia has defended its decision to segregate Roma children from other students after a court ruled the practice breached equal rights laws.
The headmistress of the primary school in Sarisske Michalany, Maria Cvancigerova, said Roma children had been put into classes on their own to ensure they got special attention, and that they had benefitted as a result.
But critics say that other schools have had success with mixed classes including Roma children and that segregation will do nothing to help resolve problems with the education and social inclusion of Roma.
Stefan Ivanco of the Advisory for Civil and Human Rights NGO which brought the legal action against the school, told IPS: "This ruling is an important precedent in stopping the widespread and illegal practice of segregation at schools. "Inclusive education is the only approach schools can take. Inclusive education in a diverse collective of students shows a child not just how to learn but how to be friendly, tolerant, considerate and responsible within a society which is, fundamentally, diverse."
Of the 430 children attending the school, more than half are Roma and of the 22 classes at the school, 12 are exclusively for Roma children. Teachers at the school claim the segregation has been a success.
Margita Dorkova, a teacher at the school who has spent 20 years teaching Roma children, told local media: "This has been shown to be the right decision. It allows us to give the children individual attention and adjust the rate at which we cover subjects to suit their abilities. Attendance rates are up, there are less children dropping out of school and they learn much more.
Most Roma children come from poor backgrounds and socially excluded communities with chronic unemployment and low education levels.
Directors at the school also claim that the behaviour of some Roma children would lead to teachers acting as "bodyguards" protecting children instead of educating them.
The school plans to appeal against the court’s decision.
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| Photo Nigel Dickinson |
Classes spéciales pour enfants Roms. Pavol Stracansky
Bratislava 16 janvier 2012 – En Slovaquie, une école veut maintenir la séparation des enfants Roms des autres élèves malgré la décision d’un tribunal ayant jugé que cette pratique viole l’égalité des droits.
Maria Cvancigerova, directrice de l’école primaire de Sarisske Michalany assure que les enfants Roms ont été mis à l’écart des autres afin de leur prodiguer une attention plus soutenue pour obtenir de meilleurs résultats. Mais les critiques parlent également d’autres écoles ayant obtenu des résultats identiques avec des classes mixtes comprenant des enfants Roms et ne voient dans la ségrégation aucune solution aux problèmes d’éducation et d’intégration des Roms.
Stefan Ivanco, consultant pour l’ONG des Droits Civils et des Droits de l’Homme qui portait plainte contre l’école dit à IPS : ‘Cette décision est une étape importante pour l’arrêt de cette pratique répandue et pourtant illicite de la ségrégation à ‘école. L’éducation inclusive n’est pas las seule alternative que l’école peut apporter, l’éducation dans une collectivité diversifiée montre aux enfants la manière d’apprendre et également comment être amical, tolérant, respectueux et responsable au sein d’une société qui est fondamentalement diversifiée. »
Sur les 420 enfants qui vont à l’école, plus de la moitié sont Roms et sur les 22 classes de l’école 12 sont exclusivement fréquentées par des enfants Roms. Les enseignants revendiquent la ségrégation comme garante du succès.
Margita Dorkova, une enseignante qui a exercé son métier pendant 20 ans avec des enfants Roms, dit au média local :’ Cette décision a déjà fait ses effets. Elle nous permet de donner aux enfants une attention particulière et d’adapter les projets éducatifs à leurs compétences. L’attention augmente, il y a moins d’enfants qui quittent l’école et ils apprennent mieux. »
En Slovaquie, la plupart des enfants Roms sont issus d’un environnement pauvre de communautés délibérément exclues de la société avec un taux de chômage élevé et un faible niveau d éducation. Les parents d’enfants Roms et non-Roms.
Les directeurs d’école revendiquent également la ségrégation à cause du comportement de certains enfants Roms qui « obligeraient » les enseignants à se comporter comme des « policiers » pour protéger les enfants au lieu de les éduquer.
L’école prévoit un recours contre cette décision du tribunal.
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